Silicon tuner breaks power barrier for VoIP cable phone services

Plano, TX, April 26, 2004" Addressing the critical radio frequency (RF) power and pricing issues central to the rollout of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) cable phone services, Microtune, Inc. today introduced a single-chip tuner that cuts RF costs by 25%, space by 25% and power by 40%. Integrated into subscriber premise equipment, the new MicroTuner MT2060 enables cable operators to deliver primary-line telephony that meets carrier-class levels of quality, service and reliability.

Fabricated in silicon germanium for very high performance, the MT2060 is a high-density broadband tuner with integrated intermediate frequency (IF) and low-noise amplifiers, IF filter, filter components and input controls. It is packaged into a miniature, multi-functional ¼"-square chip that operates with a 3.3-volt supply. The tuner consumes only one Watt of power and features a software-selectable operating mode that dissipates a mere 800 milliWatts, the lowest power for a high-performance silicon tuner in the industry.

"Cable telephony forms an integral part of cable operators' 'triple play' of video, voice, and data services, and it is now poised to reach the majority of U.S. cable TV subscribers," explained Mike Paxton, a senior analyst with technology research firm In-Stat/MDR. "Power is a critical issue for cable modems and other consumer access products that utilize VoIP for primary-line telephony service, and a tuner that consumes only one Watt of power will be an important step forward for RF technology in VoIP cable products."

"With the MT2060, the company provides a rugged, low-BoM cost RF solution that can help drive the cable adoption of VoIP digital phone services," said James Fontaine CEO/President of Microtune. At the same time, we have taken the first technology step in developing low-power tuners for other new classes of applications, such as handheld TVs."

The MT2060 is engineered to deliver low power without sacrificing performance. Based on Microtune's patented, dual-conversion tuner architecture, it delivers low phase noise, low noise figure and high linearity. It offers immunity to interference in cable networks with severe differences in signal strength across the input frequency band, ensuring quality signals across the entire system. These technical parameters are required to ensure not only minimum distortion in voice applications, but also reliability in high-speed Internet connections and clear, crisp pictures in video applications.

Microtune MT2060 Block Diagram

With its high levels of integration, the MT2060 allows for simplified and cost-efficient system design, compact architectures and reduced RF circuit footprint and bill of materials (BOM) costs. As an implementation and time-to-market advantage, the MT2060 interfaces directly to all standard demodulator chips, eliminating the need for customized products.

The MT2060 tuner is sampling now and is priced at $5.00 in quantities of 10,000. Initial production is planned for Q3, 2004. To simplify evaluation and design, Microtune also offers a MT2060 Evaluation Board and Cable/Telephony Modem Reference Design.

For more information about the MT2060 tuners and Microtune's complete suite of radio frequency (RF) solutions, visit Microtune's website www.microtune.com.

If you want more information you can fill out a short form telling Microtune what your specific needs are and any questions you may have.

The Data over Cable Systems Interface Specification (DOCSIS) and PacketCable are industry standards, developed by CableLabs, for developing interoperable cable modems and access devices.